Chapter 14
Ducky sat behind the wheel of his car, trying to formulate a plan of action, but so far his mind had come up with nothing, except wait for Gibbs who would surely find him soon. His analytical mind argued however that Gibbs had nothing to go on, Scott Had been careful to leave no evidence behind, oh he knew they might find some fibres or hairs at his home but there would be nothing to tell him where Scott had taken him. Ducky looked ahead and saw only empty road and trees; he wasn't even sure where he was.
"Pull into the next road on the left, it's a dirt track" Scott said suddenly, breaking into Ducky's thoughts, he looked over briefly and nodded turning where indicated onto a dusty dirt tract, after a few minutes a run down cabin came into view.
"Pull over behind the cabin" Scott told him indicating with the gun the small driveway hidden by undergrowth. Ducky turned the car and began to worry, this was obviously their final destination, and Ducky was afraid of what might happen know. It was clear that Scott was unstable and sadistic and he hated Gibbs with a passion. The shootings had been Scott's form of revenge, the fact that he knew Gibbs would blame himself, that he would hate that he was unable to stop them, but Ducky was to be his true act of revenge, and that made Ducky terrified not only for himself but for the effect on Gibbs should Scott succeed.
Ducky got out of the car slowly and headed towards the cabin, Scott trailing behind him
"Open it" Scott demanded passing Ducky the key to the door, Ducky unlocked it with his shaking hands, trying to hide the tremor from Scott, but he was fat to observant
"Frightened Doctor?" he crowed, his voice low and evil "You should be, I have great plans for you" he told him conspiratorially.
Ducky took a breath and crossed the threshold, only to come to a sudden stop and what greeted him, he spun round his eyes wide and desperate.
……………………………………………..
Gibbs was growing desperate but he would admit it to no one, Tony and Kate were at Ducky's house, he and McGee were back at NCIS trying to find a clue in Restin's past as to where Ducky might be. So far they had all drawn a blank.
Suddenly a strange beeping noise came from Gibbs' phone, he pulled it out of his pocket and stared at it in confusion, a symbol of an envelope was flashing in time with the beep. He looked over at McGee in confusion, catching an amused expression on the young mans face, which got him a narrow eyed look, which succeeded in squashing the expression fast.
"Fix it" Gibbs growled throwing the phone at McGee, who caught it deftly.
"You have a text Gibbs" McGee informed him, trying to keep the amusement from his face and voice, it was well known that Gibbs hated most technology and was confused easily by it.
"A what?" he growled again
"A text message" he clarified opening it and passing it back to Gibbs
A house so safe,
Went bang in his face
The few grow less
Gibbs paused and looked at the message again, confused the other notes had all had reference to the way the victim had died, but this implied the house had exploded and Ducky's hadn't, He threw the phone at McGee, who caught it and read it silently before looking up at his boss, confused.
"Check on Clark at his safe house" Gibbs growled,
"Right Boss" McGee said, admired at the way Gibbs' mind grasped things so quickly, he had thought the text referred to Ducky.
"I'm taking the phone to Abby" Gibbs called as he strode away, "phone me on her line when you get something" he added
Gibbs strode down the corridor, he was sure that the message referred to Clark Harrow and that meant that he and Ducky were the last two of the few. Gibbs walked into the deafening lab, the noise at a level that would have most teenagers cringing but Abby seemed immune to it as she bent over her desk working on something that he didn't even pretend to understand.
"Abs?" he called to her but there was no response.
"Abs" he whispered into her ear, his breath tickling her ear. He jumped back quickly knowing that when she was surprised she reacted violently.
"Gibbs" she groaned "Don't do that" she told him in exasperation, then she caught sight of his face "Ducky…" she started unable to continue fearing that something had happened to the man she thought of as like a father.
"No Abby, there's no news yet" Gibbs said kicking himself mentally for having worried Abby like that and not having kept her informed. He gently patted her shoulder
"We'll get him back Abs" he said softly his hand pulling her pig tail gently, Abby smiled sadly
"I know you will Gibbs" she said with the utmost conviction of her boss and friend, if anyone could find Ducky then Gibbs could.
Gibbs stepped back and handed her his phone
"Trace who sent me this message and where it came from" he demanded ever the ogre boss again. Abby took the phone and read the message, her eyes shooting up to meet his
"Harrow right?" she guessed, Gibbs just nodded "Ok Boss, Give me half hour" she said turning to her desk
"You have ten minutes" Gibbs retorted moving towards her phone, intending to call McGee and ball him out for taking so long, just as his hand reached out though it started to ring
"Gibbs" he said into the phone, ignoring Abby's glarer for answering her phone
"Boss, Clark Harrow's safe house blew up 10 minutes ago, they are trying to put it out, no survivors" McGee told him sadly, even a safe house wasn't safe, what hope did they have to find Ducky he wondered.
Gibbs hung up with no reply and turned to stare at Abby, his eyes bleak
"Find me Restin Abby" he said his voice low, Abby looked at him and nodded without a word, turning back to the phone.
